BIKRAM RAI

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has set a new record by forming the biggest cabinet in the history of Republican Nepal. The 46-member cabinet is only two less than the jumbo cabinet of Sher Bahadur Deuba, and the place for defence minister is still vacant. It is ironical that this is coming from a prime minister who boasted that austerity was his motto. He has shown himself to be like everyone else.

Ministers:
Dinanath Sharma (UCPN-M),
Minister for Education
Lokendra Bista Magar (UCPN-M):
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation
Satya Pahadi (UCPN-M):
Minister for Peace and Reconstruction
Kalpana Dhamala (UCPN-M),
Minister for Science and Technology
Bhim Prasad Gautam (UCPN-M):
Minister for Land Reforms
Ram Kumar Yadav (UCPN-M):
Minister for General Administration
Sarita Giri (Sadbhawana Party, Anandi Devi), Minister for Labour and Transport Management

State ministers (all Maoists):
Ram Bachchan Yadav: Defence
Saroj Kumar Yadav: Health
Dilip Maharjan: Tourism
Bishnu Chaudhari: Commerce and Supplies
Surya Man Dong: Energy
Leela Bhandari: Education
Gopi Achhami: Youth and Sports
Ghanashyam Yadav: Local Development
Jwala Sah: Land Reforms
Shushma Sharma: Federal Affairs
Hari Khewa Limbu: Finance
Sunita Kumari Mahato: General Administration
Bhimraj Chaudhari Rajbansi: Home
Laxman Mehta: Forest
Durga Devi Mahato Dhanuk: Environment
Kansi Devi Jha: Law and Justice
Ishwar Dayal Mishra: Physical Planning and Works
Arabinda Sah: Women and Children
Ramani Ram: Irrigation